The USDOE Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (FESAC), chaired by Dr. John Sheffield, will meet at the Holiday Inn, Gaithersburg, MD, September 8-9, 1999, to discuss and finalize a report to DOE Director of the Office of Science, Dr. Martha Krebs, on the subject of "balance" among the various activities of the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (OFES). The meeting will begin at 9 AM on September 8 and end at noon on September 9. Public Comment is scheduled at 1:30 PM on September 8. A presentation of findings to Dr. Krebs is scheduled for 10 AM September 9.

A special FESAC Panel, chaired by Dr. Charles Baker (UCSD) is meeting in Knoxville August 19-21 to draft the report. It is anticipated that the draft report will be made available on the web shortly thereafter.

The FESAC is responding to a charge from Dr. Krebs from October 9, 1998 (FPN98-31) in which she asks FESAC, "I would like FESAC to lead a community assessment of the restructured (fusion) program thus far, including recommendations for further redirection given projected flat budgets for fusion. With this assessment as background, I would like your recommendations as to the proof-of-principle experiments now under review, as well as your recommendations regarding the balance of the program between tokamak and non-tokamak physics, and between magnetic and inertial fusion energy. Working with the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, please develop goals and metrics to use in making your recommendations. I would also welcome any other recommendations on program content, emphasis, or balance."

In light of the recent action in the House of Representatives (FPN99-31) recommending an increase in the FY2000 fusion budget of approximately $30 million, the FESAC decided at its July 23-24 meeting to also make recommendations in the context of that budget case.

For further information on the FESAC meeting, or to sign up for public comment, please contact Bob Benson (bensonrd@ornl.gov).